Berlin News: Meditating for Human Rights: Protests during Chinese President Jiang Zemin's State Visit

By Felix Zimmermann

April 9, 2002 - Followers of the meditation practice Falun Gong appealed on Monday at Alexanderplatz in Berlin for the release of 30,000 of their fellow practitioners. Human rights organizations likewise protested on the occasion of Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit in the capital.

No matter where President Jiang Zemin goes these days in Berlin, they are already there, the Falun Gong followers, recognizable in their yellow jackets. "We will play tortoise and hare with him," said Renate Lilge-Stodieck who supervises an exercise group for this meditation system in Berlin.

They want to confront him outside the Adlon Hotel, his residence; they want to be present at the Brandenburg Gate; on Wednesday in Potsdam, when Jiang is viewing Cecilienhof Palace, and everywhere, they want to impress him with their demand: "Jiang Zemin, end the persecution of Falun Gong! End the tortures and murders [against practitioners] in China."

Falun Gong is banned in China. Jiang is considered responsible for the movement's persecution--so said Lilge-Stodieck. On his orders, since 1999, 150,000 followers of Falun Gong have been incarcerated in prisons and put into forced labour camps; 390 have died as a result of beatings and torture. "The sheer numbers of 50 million followers is putting a scare into ruling Chinese government circles."

Yesterday, approximately 300 Falun Gong members demonstrated at Alexanderplatz. Then they regrouped and moved on to the Reichstag (the German seat of government). Some of the followers demonstrated the five meditation movements in the middle of the square. It is these movements that, together with adhering to the three principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance, are at the core of the meditation system. It is a serene meditation system, accompanied by soft, flowing music from loudspeakers.

Later on, Ms. Zhizhen Dai talked about her husband, who had been tortured to death. In a voice choked with tears she demanded an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. Mr. Karl Hafen, executive officer for IGFM (International Association for Human Rights) appealed to the German government to intervene with Jiang Zemin to observe human rights. He particularly mentioned the case of Xiong Wei, a former student at Berlin's Technische Universitaet (Technical University). At the beginning of 2002, police in Beijing arrested her as she spread news about Falun Gong. "She has lived in this country for six years and the German government must intervene for her release," Mr. Hafen said.

Soft-Shoe Politics

Amnesty International's Aid for the imprisoned section lamented an "increase of severe human rights abuses in China. German President Rau and the parliament must demand of President Jiang Zemin an improvement of this situation," stated the organization's general secretary, Ms. Barbara Lochbihler. This China expert for "AI-Germany" included in her criticism remarks that "Germany is soft-peddling with China." Amnesty International will show solidarity with Falun Gong and participate in protests at Bellevue Palace and also in front of the Rotes Rathaus (Red City Hall).

Another event is taking place at the same time: The Association for Endangered Peoples, based in Goettingen, is filing a lawsuit with the German Federal Prosecutor against Jiang Zemin, naming him as a defendant in four cases of torture with intent to do bodily harm and cause death. Followers of Falun Gong are among these victims. The chairperson of the above-named association, Mr. Tilman Zuelch, said that China is consistently at fault for breaking [internationally recognized] prohibitions against torture. "When this happens, German criminal laws apply."

(Original text in German)

Source: http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2002/4/9/20811.html